Rebels rout the Pioneers to open season 2-0

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

The Obion County Central football team continued its successful start to the 2025 season, jumping out to a big lead early before defeating Gibson County 46-0 on Friday night in Dyer.

The Central running game accounted for the bulk of the Rebel offense which totaled 293 yards with all but 11 coming on the ground. The blue and red’s offense touchdowns were highlight be a trifecta of TDs by senior running back Tucker Moore, who rushed for 195 yards on nine carries.

“It was important this week to come out and set the tone early,” Central Head Coach Clayton Morris said. “We needed to be sure we were dialed in mentally and focused on both sides of the ball.

“That run game, when it can travel regardless of the weather or how long the road trip, if you’re able to line up and run the ball, good things are going to happen for your team. And, that’s what we saw tonight.”

The Rebel defense, though, made the first big play of the night as senior defensive back Arrow Laden snagged an errant Gibson County pass and returned it 40 yards for an apparent touchdown.

Though the initial score was wiped away, the Central offense picked right up and took the ball down the field. After what was a rare hiccup on a strong night with the opening drive for the Rebels beginning with a fumble, the Central offense rode Moore through much of the first possession before a 26-yard carry from Tucker Phelon capped the six-play, 47-yard drive. A bad snap on the extra point lead to an interception to keep the Rebel lead to 6-0 with 7:32 left in the first quarter.

After Central’s defense held the Pioneers to a three-and-out, it took only one play for the Rebels to find the end zone. Moore broke free for a 39-yard touchdown to put the blue and red on the board again. Another bad snap led to the missed two-pointer with the Central lead staying at 12-0 with 5:20 left in the opening quarter.

Another Gibson County three-and-out led to the third Obion County touchdown of the first frame after a long punt return by Bryson Underwood. Again it was Moore, who scored from 13 yards out with 2:31 left. Morgan Carpenter then added the two-point conversion to give Central a 20-0 lead.

Things continued to go well for the Rebels and their defense as a big and unusual play led to another Central score. On a Derek Argo sack of the Pioneer quarterback, Gibson County’s signal caller tossed the ball up into the air – underhanded. Central defensive lineman Connor Davis narrowly missed snagging it out of the air but dropped the ball. Both teams, thinking the play was dead, began to walk away from the ball though the play was not whistled dead. After several seconds and yelling from both sides to get to the ball, Davis ran over, scooped up the ball and scored. The extra point failed but Central’s lead was pushed to 26-0 with 11:01 left in the half.

Central tacked on two more scores before the end of the second quarter. Moore scored for the third time – this time on a 47-yard run. David Corona added the extra point to put the Rebels on top 33-0 with 8:12 left in the half.

Underwood scored late in the half on a 23-yard jet sweep. The PAT failed as Central took a 39-0 lead into the half.

With the clock running in mercy rule and the quarters trimmed down to six minutes each, Central added a score in the third quarter Ladden carried the ball for a 54-yard touchdown. The extra point was successful, giving the Rebels the 46-point lead it held through the final horn.

“I am proud of that,” Morris said of the Central shutout. “We were close last week but we got one tonight.

“We played a lot of younger kids in the second half and they rose to the occasion.”

There was one thing that stuck out to the Central head coach when he looked at his defense.

“We had a lot of physicality and a lot of kids flying around to the football,” Morris explained. “Again, good things happen when you play that way.”

Morris admitted there were good things and bad things when it came to special teams on Friday night.

“That’s definitely a learning point for our kids,” Morris explained. “There’s not a whole lot of opportunities that you get to do that in a situation where it does not kill you.

“You move on into the season and some of the teams that we play, those types of mental lapses with cause us to be behind the eight ball.”

Figuring out extra points is at the top of the list.

“Like I told the kids before we broke it down, I promise y’all we’ve got to put an emphasis on PAT and field goal,” Morris added. “That is going to cost us at some point in the season.

“That is probably the only negative that I am taking away from tonight – our inconsistency to convert the extra point.”

Central hosts Gleason Friday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. in Troy as the Rebels look to continue their undefeated start to the regular season.

Coverage of this story brought to you by: